Covenant News

Applicants Wanted for First Parish Project

HAYESVILLE, NC (July 7, 2003) - HAYESVILLE, NC (July 7) – New Covenant ministers are invited to apply for a continuing education program geared for pastors of small churches. The First Parish Project, offered by the Hinton Rural Life Center, is designed for recent seminary graduates entering their first full-time parish ministry position in a church of 100 or less.

Participants will meet at Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, North Carolina, for one week (Monday through Friday) in the fall, winter and spring of two consecutive years. Hinton staff would also visit parishes of the participants to help congregations with a vision/planning process. It is hoped the educational opportunity will assist in the spiritual development of both pastor and church.

A total of 25 beginning pastors will be recruited for this program, most through the Ministry Fellows Program of The Fund for Theological Education. Participating pastors will be in the beginning year of their first parish assignments.

Those interested in The First Parish Project should prepare a package of application materials including: -a one-page resume -a three page Faith Biography answering the question, "What spiritual process brought you to the point of going into pastoral ministry?" -and three one-page letters of reference, including one from a college or seminary professor, a denominational official, and a field education supervisor. .

Applications should be sent to Rev. Delmer Chilton, Coordinator of Spiritual Formation Ministries, Hinton Rural Life Center, P.O. Box 27, Hayesville, NC 28904. They can also be sent to Chilton by email at delmer@hintoncenter.org.

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